Why is it important to get to equilibrium and how long does it take? Are there problems running polypropylene profiles on a single screw extruder? Does the job involve compounding color concentrates on a corotating twin screw extruder? This unique reference work is designed to aid operators, engineers, and managers in quickly answering such practical day-to-day questions in extrusion processing. This comprehensive volume is divided into 7 Parts. It contains detailed reference data on such important operating conditions as temperatures, start-up procedures, shear rates, pressure drops, and safety. This reference is a practical guide to extrusion bringing together both the equipment and materials processing aspects. It provides basic and advanced topics about the thermoplastics processing in the extruder, for reference and training.

The late Harold F. Giles, Jr. who conceived this project, had over 25 years of diverse experience in the plastics industry. His background included product and process development at E.I. DuPont, Bayer Chemical Corporation, GE Plastics, and Azdel. He also conducted training and consulting for operators, engineers, and managers at the University of North Carolina Polymer Extension Program.

John M. Wagner, Jr. is a director at Crescent Associates, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in plastic films and flexible packaging. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BS and MS in Chemical Engineering. His career has included work with B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company and the Mobil Chemical Company Films Division. His expertise includes product and process development and optimization, processing equipment troubleshooting and improvement, and applying statistical methods to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of experimental investigations. He currently holds 23 patents on flexible packaging films and coating technology. He has authored several papers, book chapters, and coedited two books. He is also an assistant editor of the Journal of Plastic Film and Sheeting. He is a Fellow of the SPE, and active on the SPE Extrusion Division Board of Directors.

Eldridge M. Mount, III is an independent consultant to the films and polymer processing industry in polymer extrusion, coextrusion, and film converting. His career began as a summer engineer at GE, and then on to the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to perform experimental and theoretical studies on the melting and extrusion behavior of solid polymers to earn his advanced degrees. He has also worked for ICI Americas, Mobil Chemical Films Division, and led the exploratory product development for BOPP packaging films. He currently holds 8 U.S. and 2 European patents in the field of coextruded PP films. He is a Fellow of SPE, and Executive Committee Member, and member of the Extrusion Division Board of Directors since 1981.